Overview
of Rugby Balls
Rugby balls are perhaps the most essential piece of rugby equipment -
without them, the players will have nothing to play with. Due to the
ball having such an important role in the game, referees need to make
sure the ball is playable. This means that it needs to be pumped up
suitably and that there is enough grip for the players. If the rugby
ball in question does not meet these criteria, the ball will not be
playable, and a substitute ball will be needed.
Rugby balls all follow one oval design but are available from a range
of brands in different designs, sizes and weights.

Different
Sizes and Weights of balls
The ball type used for rugby league games is known as
‘international size’ or ‘size
5’. It must be oval in shape and made with four panels. This
size is approximately 27cm long and 60cm in circumference at its widest
point. It can weigh anywhere from 410g to 460g.
However, there are many other balls of various sizes which are used in
rugby for different reasons. The smallest is ‘size
1’ which is otherwise known as ‘Mini’.
These balls can be used for players of all ages and help improve
catching and throwing skills. The size of a Mini rugby ball is 15cm
long, which is a big difference compared to the 27cm in length of the
size 5 ball. The Mini is most commonly used by much younger children to
help them get to grips with handling a rugby ball and make them more
familiar with the game.
The next size up from the Mini is ‘size 3’. This
ball is aimed at Under 9’s and is used commonly for junior
use. It offers younger kids the chance to get the feel for a bigger
ball, without being too much of a jump in size. After the size 3 there
is another ball which is known as ‘size 4’. This
ball is normally used in schools for players aged 9-15 years
old. The last size is the size 5 ball which we have already
discussed; it is the biggest rugby ball and is commonly used in clubs
and at a professional level.
If you’re wondering what happened to ‘size
2’, these are known as ‘Midi’ balls but
are most often used as promotional gifts or replicas and not used in
actual games.

Materials
The very first rugby balls were made using an actual pig’s
bladder and four panels of leather to form the outer casing. Moving
forward, they were made from rubber enclosed in leather, but these were
prone to water-logging. Modern balls have a rubber inner tube enclosed
in synthetic waterproof materials; some do still have leather on the
panels, depending on the brand.
A rugby match ball normally consists of: synthetic rubber, microfibre
materials and string type materials, which are used to help the ball
stay together. Some rugby ball manufacturers have designed balls which
repel water – this increases players’ ability to
grip the ball in wet conditions.
When the ball is stitched together a wax-like substance is applied
around the stitching which helps make the ball waterproof and it allows
the ball to avoid leaks and will make it more durable, making it last
longer.
All the materials mentioned are designed to created grip, durability
and comfort for the players which will allow them to play their best
each game they play.

Training
Balls
Training balls are designed to help players practise their skills and
helps them reach their targets. Many training balls are brightly
coloured as this gives the ball high visibility. This is beneficial
because players will be able to easily see the ball when training,
which will make catching the ball from a high kick easier.
Training balls are also made the same way as regular match-day balls,
meaning they have the same waterproofing materials giving the ball
greater durability. They also have the same materials which repel
water, giving the ball grip factors the player needs no matter the
weather. This can make training sessions much better for both players
and their clubs.

Rugby
Ball MaintenanceCleaning
Rugby is played in the Winter, so the ball is very likely to be muddy
and wet after training or at the end of a match. It is important to
clean the ball properly each time; this is because dirt can affect the
performance of the ball by adding extra weight and impacting the grip
players can get.
It is also important to clean the steams and stitches after use;
leaving them dirty may cause the stitching to become loose which in
turn could potentially deflate the ball and affect performance. Use a
damp cloth and be gentle in areas where hard scrubbing could affect the
stitching. Never clean the ball in the shower or plunge it into water.
Even though the ball maybe made with special waterproofing materials,
it can still be water-logged if there are huge amounts of water poured
onto or into it. Dunking the ball into a pool of water can seriously
harm its performance and may even cause the ball to not be playable. If
water was to enter the ball it would make the ball heavier, which will
also affect the performance of the ball.
Cleaning the valve with glycerine is also highly beneficial as this
ensures an air tight seal, keeping the ball inflated over a number of
matches.

Storage
Storing the ball after use in a dry, airy place at normal room
temperature is beneficial because it will stop air loss and keep the
ball from getting damaged. If the ball is stored in a very cold or very
warm place, it will lose air and become un-playable.

Reinflation
It is likely that your rugby ball may lose some air in its lifetime
from the first time that it was pumped up and that in itself is not a
problem; it is very normal for a ball to lose some air over time from
use. Keep an eye on it and if you do need to pump it back up, ensure
the ball is treated with care. Inflation can cause the bladder to get
trapped within the ball, so keep an eye on this. In addition, if the
correct pressure is accidentally exceeded within the ball, you should
immediately reduce the pressure down to the recommended pressure. This
is because excessive pressure can easily damage the stitches and can
cause the ball to lose its shape. Furthermore, if the ball is either
over or under inflated it will not perform as well and the expected
life span will be reduced.

Purchasing
Factors
Size is going to be the first purchasing factor for a rugby ball;
people will buy the size they need for their upcoming matches or
training sessions.
Following size comes price and brand – as with all purchases,
people may be brand loyal and only buy from a brand they trust. Price
can sway this decision though, if there are special offers or balls at
simply better prices from different brands.